Child & Family Development

The Child and Family Development Program prepares graduates to work in educational related settings that serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners with disabilities. Graduates are prepared to apply their understanding of child growth and development to help children progress through developmental stages, utilize screening and assessment procedures for children with special needs, develop and implement effective learning environments for children, and work collaboratively with families to serve children.

Sample Occupations

Types of Employers

Preparing for your career in

Education: Acquire appropriate certification for teaching in public schools, learn to work well with different types of people, gain experience working with a target population through mentoring, tutoring, or volunteering, join student chapters of national teaching organizations, obtain a graduate degree for student affairs and administrative positions

Social Services: Volunteer with an organization that provides counseling or social services to children and families, become familiar with the operational structures of government and nonprofit social service agencies, develop strong communication skills, supplement curriculum with courses in social work, sociology, or psychology, learn to work well with people from differing socioeconomic, racial, ethic and religious backgrounds, pursue graduate work and licensure in counseling or social work to become a therapist, develop a wide range of skills such as presenting, grant writing, and fundraising for nonprofit positions, participate in campus “alternative break” trips, work as a camp counselor

Business: Demonstrate initiative, attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, and leadership skills, consider taking interpersonal communication and public speaking classes, take business classes, obtain sales experience with companies catering to children’s needs, join retail or business student organizations, gain leadership experience

How do I know if its right for me?

ASSESS: Take a career assessment, such as PathwayU, to see how your interests, values, and personality fit with majors and careers.

RESEARCH: Research the careers on this WCIDWAMI and thousands of other careers using O*Net Online, The Occupational Outlook Handbook or FirstHand.

EXPLORE: Learn more about a career field of interest by job shadowing, attending a career panel, or participating in a Career Trek. Further your exploration while gaining valuable skills by completing an internship, co-op, volunteer, or research experience.